Lubricator



June 24, 1930. w, D A S 1,768,516

' LUBRIGATOR Filed June '7, .1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE FRANK W. EDWARDS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHICAGO'LUBRICATOR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS LUBRICATOR Application filed June 7,

of the feeds has its own forcing apparatus,

{] of the nature of a plunger pump, each feed and its pump constituting a unit independent of the others, there being an operating means for each pump that collectively constitute a unit, and an actuating mechanism for the operating means which also constitutes a severable unit, whereby the parts may be first assembled and adjusted, and then assembled in an oil reservoir or bowl independently of one another, and similarly removed, thereby providing for assembhng, disassembling and repairing readily and economically.

The invention consists of a lubricator of the force-feed type having an oil bowl or reservoir provided with any number of independent oil-forcing units for feeding the 011 to the desired places of use, each unit separately' assembled as such and nsertible in and removable from the oil bowl, and each forcing unit having its own stroke-adjusting means for varying the quantity of oil fed therefrom; and independent operating means for the several forcing units, arranged as a unit and adapted to be assembled as such within the oil bowl, and a separate actuating 'means or drive for the operating means, the

parts of which are adapted to be assembled and then inserted in and secured to the oil bowl, the said drive being mounted on the side of the oil reservoir instead of on the end, the operating and the actuating units also being independently applicable to and removable from the oil reservoir or bowl, as I will proceed now to explain and finally claim.

In the accompanying drawings illustrats 1926. Serial No. 114,322.

ing the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure l is a side elevation with the upper right hand corner in section. Fig. 2 is a cross section, on a larger scale, illustrating a part of the actuating mechanism or drive. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sect-ion of a portion of the lubricator, illustrating the connection of the drive with the operating mechanism of the forcing units. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section of the entire lubricator. Fig. 5 is a verticalsection, on a larger scale, illustrating a feeding unit in which the discharge is arranged vertically instead of horizontally as in Fig. 4 and also illustrating other modifications. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view and partial section illustrating a modification in the connection between the operat-. ing mechanism and the forcing unit. Fig.

7 is an elevation and partial section of the Scotch yoke forming part of the connection between the drive and the operating mechanism, seen from the right of Fig. 4.

The bowl or reservoir for containing the oil or lubricant may be of rectangular shape, having the bottom 1, the front side wall 2, the rear side wall 3 and the end walls 4, and provided with the sunken chamber 5 at the top having an opening 6 into the reservoir, which is closed by a cover 7 and further enclosed by an outside cover 8 hinged at 9 to the front wall and locked at its ends by bolts, and nuts 10 swivelled to the casing. 11 is a filling inlet in the top provided with a strainer 12 for catching foreign matter contained in the oil supply. l

The oil bowl or reservoir may be provided with the brackets 13 by'which it may be secured in position for use.

I have shown the oil bowl or reservoir provided with siX of the forcing units, although any number maybe employed, and inasmuch as these forcing units are alike, a description of one will suffice for all.

Referring to Fig. 4, each forcing unit comprises a body 14, having a base flange 15, and adapted to be inserted through a hole in the bottom of the bowl or reservoir and secured in place by means of nuts and bolts 16,-see Fig. 1. This body 14 is provided with an annular recess 17 covered by a strainer 18, and from this recess extends a diagonal oil feed port 19, opening into a vertical feed port 20, which last opens into a valve casing 21 having the top pressure retaining check valve 22 and the bottom pressure retaining check valve 23. This body has an oil delivery port 24, which opens into a port 25 extending outwardly through the projection 26 and opening into a valve casing 27, in which last there is a top pressure retaining check valve 28 and a bot-tom pressure retaining check valve 29, suitably seated under a spring pressure device 30, and controlling the port 31 leading to the discharge port 32, from which the oil is conveyed by pipe 33 to the point of distribution.

Attached to the body 14, as by screwthreads, is a pump cylinder 34, in which is arranged the plunger 35 provided with a cupped washer 36, and any number of extra washers 37 to make a pressure tight joint with the cylinder so as to minimize loss of forcing pressure. The retaining plate 38, the cupped washer and other washers are held in position between a collar 38 an d a nut 39 on the plunger. The plunger is normally elevated by a spring 40 into position to receive the forcing or ejecting stroke presently described. The plunger is extended above the nut and enters into a tubular portion 41 of a plunger-adjustment extension 42. The portion 41 extends into the cylinder through the nut 43, and the upper end of the extension 42 is provided with a socket 44 into which extends an adjusting screw 45 held in place in the chamber 5 by means of nuts 46. By the construction described, the length of stroke of the plunger may be adjusted to vary the quantity of oil fed or discharged.

The socket 44 may be provided with a lateral opening 47 to impart a dashpot action.

The socket 44 may be surrounded by a spring 48 interposed between the top of the extension 42 and the bottom of the chamber 5 to aid in steadying the plunger adjustment extension 42 and keep the tubular portion 41 in contact with the top of the extension of the plunger 35 or against the nut 39.

It will be noted that the plunger adjustment extension 42 is guided at the top by the use of the socket 44 fitting about the extended inner end of the adjusting screw. At the bottom it is guided by passing its tubular portion 41 through the nut 43 into the cylinder 34 for an extern al guide and by its engagement with the extended end of the plunger for an in ternal guide. The part 42 thus is held in secure vertical position.

As will. be understood, the oil from the oil bowl feeds by gravity into the recess 17 and thence into the ports 19 and 20, and on the up stroke of the plunger the oil is fed past the checks 23 and 22 into the space between the body and the cylinder of the forcing unit and thence escapes through the ports 24 and 25 to the discharging or delivery mechanism under pressure of the down stroke of the plunger.

49 is a plug for use in gaining access to the ad acent ports for cleaning them.

The forcing unit as thus described is designed for adelivery feed extending horizontally, but in Fig. 5, I have shown a modification wherein the discharge is vertical, as indicated by the nipple 50, and the extension 26 shown in Fig. 4 is unnecessary, and the discharging check valves are moved inwardly to the base of the body. Furthermore, in this modification, the base flange 15 shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and its securing bolts may be omitted, and the device screwed into the bottom of the oil reservoir. Otherwise, the construction shown in Fig. 5 is the same as that shown in Fig. 4 and the like parts thereof are similarly designated.

The oil bowl has the heater connection 51 for receiving a heat suppi from any suitable source, to keep the oil fluid when necessary.

The forcing unit operating means coinirises a shaft 52 mounted. ion 7 'iwise of the oil bowl in bearing nuts 53 tapped in the end walls of said bowl, and this shaft has clamped or otherwise adjustahly fixed to it,as many arms 54 as there are forcing units. As shown in Fi 3 and 4, these arms are forked. at 54 to straddle the extension member 42 and bear upon lower wall. above the portion 41 in order to effect the down or discharge stroke of the plunger when the shaft 52 is rocked. Instead of straddling the extension 42, the arm may have a single finger 55 to engage a yoke-like portion 56 of the extension, as shown in .liigs. 5 and 6. The arms, whether of the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or 5 and (3, may be clamped to the shaft 52 by having their shaftengaging portions split, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 secured by bolts and. nut 57.

53 is the main drive arm, split as shown in Fig. 4, and keyed to the shaft and clamped thereon by the bolt and nut 59, at one end and having its other end forked, as at 60, to engage the knob 61 on the Scotch yoke 62 which forms a part the actuating unit or drive, and which by longitudinal sliding motion vibrates the arm 58 and so rocks the shaft 52 an d causes the arms 54 to impart the down stroke to the plan and then relieve the j sure and permit the springs 40 to ra he plunger-s and dra a fresh supply of oil llli'O'tl'lG pumps.

T he Scotch yoke 62 comprises the socket 63 and the arms 64, which are shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4 as provided with ports (55 for lubricating purposes, and these arms 64 are mounted in the supports and bearings 66 screwed. into the top and bottom of the oil bowl, so that the yoke may have a vertical rectilinear reciprocating motion. ports and bearings 66 are ported also, as

The supshown at 67, for lubrication of the arms 64 in their supports and bearings 66.

The Scotch yoke 62 is given longitudinal reciprocation by an eccentric 68 made on or applied to a shaft 69, and this shaft has a bearing in the housing plate 70 and extends through the ratchet wheel 71, in conical form, as shown in Fig. 4c, and which ratchet is fixed to turn with the shaitand is retained laterally thereon between the boss 72 on the housing plate 70 on one side and the nut 73 on the shaft arranged on the other side. This shaft 69 is detachably connected with a shaft 74:, as by a square 75 on the end-of shaft 69 and a socket 75 on shaft 74c fitted over it. The pin 69 in the square? 5 is used to prevent the nut 73 from slipping or getting loose. Shaft 74 extends outwardly beyond the aftermentioned main drive shaft and ends in an angular orother head 7 6 to receive a hand operating means when such use is necessary or desirable.

The housing plate 70 is fitted in an opening 77 in the side wall 3 of the oil bowl and is held therein in any suitable way, as by screws 77, 2. I v

The housing plate is enclosed by the main housing 78 which is detachably securedto said wall 3, as by screw-bolts 79 or otherwise.

80 is a main hollow drive shaft, in which is arranged the shaft T l. Shaft 80 is mounted in the hub 81 of the housing 78, and secured oil-tight therein, as by the packing gland 82 and nut 83. This shaft has its inner end eX- tcnded and provided with a shoulder 84: which bears against the inner end of the hub 81 of the housing 78, and it is provided with a cross piece or pawl carrier 85 the ends of which overhang the ratchet Wheel 71 and in which are oppositely mounted the drive pawls 86, which are held in normal contact with the ratchet by means of the adjustable spring pressure devices 87. On the housing 70 are mounted the opposite drag pawls or detcnts 88, likewise held in yielding contact with the ratchet by spring pressure devices 89. The drive pa-wls 86 may be pivotally mounted on the cross piece 85 of the main drive shaft 80 by means of the bolts 90, and the drag pawls or detents may be pivotally mounted on pivots 91 supported in projections 92 onthe housing 70.

V The ratchetpreferably has a hub extension 93 fitted in a corresponding recess in the inner end of the shaft 80 so as to afford in connection with collar 7 2, bearings for the ratchet on both faces thereof.

The shaft 80 has applied to it a crank arm 94: by which power may be applied to the shaft by connection of the crank arm with any suitable moving part of the machine or apparatus to be lubricated.

As will be seen, and as already lndicated, the forcing element comprising the} body, cylinder, plunger and its adjustment extension, is a unit, which may be assembled out side of the bowl and then applied to the bowl as a unit, and adapted to receive the plunger adjusting elements and the arm of the operating unit. Any number of these forcing or pumping units may be used, and if it is desired at any time to cut out one or more of them, that may be readily accomplished by detaching the undesired unit or units, withoutdisturbing the others, and the opening or openings in the oil bowl vacated by the unit or units may be plugged or-otherwise closed. In the construction of forcing units shown in Fig. 5, it is obvious that a screw plug could be used to close the opening made by the detachment of any one of the forcing units. The opera-ting unit also may be assembled outside of the oil bowl, and then introduced as a unit into the oil bowl, and mounted therein in the bearings 53, and its arms 54 arranged in operative connection with the plunger mechanism of the forcing units.

The Scotch yoke also may be mounted in the 'oil bowl so as to put its knob 61 into its operative connection with the arm 58 in readiness to actuate the operating unit.

The actuating or drive unit likewise may be assembled outside of the bowl; the cocentric 68 being detachable from the shaft 69 so as to permit the extension of the shaft.

69 through the housing 70, after which the cocentric is applied to the shaft in position to give timely reciprocation to the Scotch yoke. Then the housing 7 8 with its enclosed parts is bolted in position around the housing 70, and then the lubricator is ready to be operated and set in motion by the connection of the crank arm 94 on shaft 80 with a suitable source of power.

By the constructions described, it is possible to embody in a very simple lubricator an arrangement whereby one drive unit may operate any number of forcing units, and the adjustment travel of each forcing plunger may be separately controlled.

The various units may be properly adjusted, (and this is especially true of the drive unit), before the housing 78 is applied.

The drive assembly is so arranged that the drive shaft and drive pawls may be assembled as a separate unit, and adjustments can be made before the main drive pawls are put into place; and it will be noted that all of the pawls are in sight when the drive unit is assembled.

The oil bowl constructed as described admits of the complete assembly being made at a low cost.

The opening 7 7 is large enough to permit the introduction of the Scotch yoke into the oil bowl and its application to its bearings and supports 66.

After the device has been properly mounted on the engine, locomotive or other device, the drive lever or crank 94 is fitted with an extension lever, not shown, to meet the requirements of the engine stroke, and this extension lever is connected directly or indirectly with any suitable one of the engines moving parts. The oil is then placed in the bowl or reservoir, and not only flows into the forcing or pumping units, but also floods the drive unit, as through the openings 95 and 96 in the upper and lower portions of the wall 3 and housing plate respectively. It may be noted here that the lowermost of these openings may be utilized to drain the housing 78.

As long as the engine is in motion, the lubricator will be in motion to force the lubricant to the parts to be lubricated. The drive pawls impart a stepby-step motion to the ratchet. After the engine has completed the forward stroke, the return stroke starts, and of course carries the crank 94 back again for a fresh stroke. drive pawls drag over the ratchet wheels, and in order to prevent the reverse movement of the ratchet wheel the drag pawls are placed at an angle of about 45 to the thrust or drive pawls, so that there is a continuous step-bystep travel of the ratchet wheel in one di rection. At each complete revolution of the ratchet wheel the eccentric 68 makes a complete revolution and as this occurs the yoke 62 makes a complete stroke up and down, thereby causing the arm 58 to make a complete up and down movement, and this in turn operates the shaft 52 and arms 54, thereby operating the plungers to force their oil to the appropriate ports to the delivery mechanism.

The complete rotation of the ratchet gives a full travel of the yoke of about a quarter of an inch, and this travel in turn is transferred to the plungers. Assuming that the quarter inch travel delivers too much oil through one or more of the forcing, units, the downward movement of the adjusting screw 45 of that particular unit or those particular units, will reduce the travel of the plunger from the full stroke down to any determined proportion of stroke required. This does not interfere with the full travel of the arm 58 or of the arm of any one or more of the plungers requiring the full stroke.

The spring 40 is applied and given tension enough to ensure a positive return of the plunger, even though the packing resistance must be overcome.

So long as the locomotive or engine is in motion, the lubricator will continue to operate, and when the engine comes to a stop, the lubricator will stop feeding. This meets the requirements of a lubricator that only feeds when the engine is in motion.

Variations in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts are permissible within the invention and the scope of the claims following.

On the next stroke the What I claim is 1. A lubricator, having an oil reservoir, and a l1ibricant-f ircing unit composed of a ported body portion for coi'itrolling the flow of lubricant, provided with a recess open to the oil reservoir and con'nnunicating with the ports of said body portion, a pumping cylinder detachable from said body portion, a screen mounted on the body portion and enclosing said recess and held in fined relation thereto by said cylinder, and a plunger in said cylinder, the forcing unit being applicable to and removable from said reservoir bodily, and means for imparting motion to said plunger.

2. A lubricator, having an oil reservoir, :1 lubricant-forcing unit including a ported body provided with a recess communicating with its ports and detachable from said reservoir, a pumping cylinder detachably connected with d body, and a sercen'carried by said body and enclosing said recess and held in fixed relation thereto by said cylinder, said body screen and cylinder being bodily removable from said reservoir. 7

3. A lubricator, having an oil reservoir, a lubricant forcing unit including a ported body provided with an annular recess forming a means of communication between said reservoir and the ports of the body, said body provided with a flange furnishing a means of attachment with said reservoir, a pumping cylinder detachably connected with said body and having a slwulder for engagement with said body, and a screen surrounding said booy and enclosing said recess and held in fixed relation thereto between the flange of the body and the shoulder of the cylinder, said body cylinder and screen being removable from said reservoir as a unit.

4. In a lubricator, an oil reservoir, a plurality of oil-forcing units, an operating shaft having as many arms as there are oil-forcing units, the shaft with the attached arms being adapted to be assembled outside of the oil reservoir and to be introduced thus into the oil reservoir and mounted therein with its arms in operative connecton with the oil-forcing units, a shaft operatng arm on said shaft, a Scotch yoke mounted in the oil reservoir, detachable supports and bearings for said yoke, a separable connection for said yoke and said arm, and means applied to the reservoir and connected with the Scotch yoke or reciproeating it in its supports and bearings.

5. In a lubricator, an oil reservoir, a plurality of oil-forcing units, an operating shaft having many arms as there are oil-forcing units, the shaft with the attached arms being adapted to be assembled outside of the oil reservoir and to be introduced thus into the oil reservoir and mounted therein with its arms in operative connecton with the oil-forcing units, a shaft operating arm on said shaft, a Scotch yoke moun ed in the oil reservoir,

detachable supports and hearings in the reservoir for said yoke, a separable connection for said yoke and said arm, an eccentric engaging the Scotch yoke, and means applied to the reservoir to rotate said eccentric.

6. A lubri'cator, having an oil reservoir, a plurality of independent oil-forcing pumps arranged inside of said reservoir, a shaft having as many pump-operating arms as there are pumps also located within the reservoir, means to actuate said shaft and its arms comprising a reciprocating element and a drive unit detachably connected with said reciprocating element and comprising a shaft having an eccentric, a housing covering an opening in a side wall of the reservoir, a ratchet wheel mounted on said shaft, a drive shaft having drive pawls engaging said ratchet wheel and a housing applied to the side wall and supporting and enclosing the elements of the drive unit, said drive unit adapted to be assembled outside of the reservoir and then applied bodily to the reservoir in connection with the reciprocating element.

7. A lubricator, comprising an oil reservoir having any number of independent oil-forcing units for feeding the oil to the desired places of use, an operating means for said forcing units comprising a shaft provided with arms severally arranged in operative relation to the several forcing units, an actuating means or drive for the operating means adapted to be mounted on the side of the oil reservoir, and an intermediate means within the oil reservoir for connecting the operating means and the drive, said forcing units, their operating means, the drive and the connecting means being constructed as separate units adapted to be assembled outside of the oil reservoir and insertible in and removable from. the oil reservoir as units.

8. In a lubricator, an oil-forcing unit having a cylinder, a plunger therein, a plunger adjustment extension having a tubular projection entering the cylinder and engaged by the plunger to form an internal guide for the extension, and a nut on the cylinder through which the tubular projection extends and which forms an external guide for the extension and a stop for said plunger.

9. In a lubricator, an oil-forcing unit having a cylinder, a plunger therein, a plunger adjustment extension having a tubular proection entering the cylinder and engaged by the plunger to form an internal guide for the extension, a nut on the cylinder through which the tubular projection extends and which forms an external guide for the extension, a socket on the upper portion of the extension, and an adjusting screw entering said socket.

10. In a lubricator, an oil-forcing unit having a cylinder, a plunger therein, a plunger ad uStment extension having a tubular pro- ]ection entering the cylinder and engaged by the plunger to form an internal guide for the extension, a nut on the cylinder through which the tubular projection extends and which forms an external guide for the extension, a socket on the upper portion of the ex tension, an adjusting screw entering said socket, and a spring acting upon the socket to steady the extension.'

11. In a lubricator, an oil reservoir, an oilforcing unit arranged in said reservoir, means within said reservoir for operating said forcing unit including a shaft extendingoutside of said reservoir, and provided with a non-- cylindrical end, a ratchet wheel carried by the extended portion of said shaft outside of said reservoir, means for imparting intermittent rotary motion to said ratchet wheel and therethrough to said shaft including a pawlcarrier and pawls, means journalled Within the pawl-carrier and engaging the noncylindrical end of said shaft for manually imparting rotation thereto, and a housingenclosing said pawl and ratchet mechanism and providing a chamber in communication with said reservoir for supplying lubricant to the pawl and ratchet mechanism, said housing, pawl-carrier and pawls and manual rotation imparting means being removable as a unit without disturbing said operating means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of June, A. D. 1926.

FRANK W. EDIVARDS. 

